D4vd arrested: Family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez makes first public statement after D4vd charged with teen’s murder

los angeles — The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the teenage girl who was found dismembered in musician D4vd’s Tesla last year, issued their first public statement Tuesday after the alternative pop singer was charged with first-degree murder in the 14-year-old’s death.

“We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and District Attorney’s Office for their hard work. We would also like to thank the residents of Lake Elsinore for all their support. Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we had great times together,” the family wrote. “We love her so much and she always told us she loved us. We miss her terribly. All we want is justice for Celeste.”

Celeste’s family attended D4vd’s first court appearance on Monday afternoon. They were expected to make a statement through their lawyers outside the courtroom, but the press conference was cancelled.

D4vd has been formally charged with murder and other charges in connection with the “brutal and horrific” killing of Celeste on Monday.

Previous report: D4vd pleads not guilty to first-degree murder in ‘brutal and horrific’ killing of 14-year-old girl

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed the charges at a press conference, where he was accompanied by Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

Additional charges against D4vd include “continuing sexual acts, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a person under the age of 14, and mutilation of bodily remains,” according to the district attorney.

D4vd made his first appearance in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom for his arraignment on Monday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He will remain in custody without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.

“The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not kill Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence,” his attorneys wrote in a statement Monday.

Hochman says D4vd had a long-term sexual relationship with the underage girl as an adult, killed her to protect his career, dismembered her and left her body in his car.

“These charges include the most serious charges that the District Attorney’s Office can bring, which is first-degree murder with special circumstances,” Hochman told reporters. “The special circumstances are lurking, committing this crime for financial gain, or killing a witness in the investigation.”

The singer, whose legal name was David Anthony Burke He was arrested on Thursday Regarding Celeste’s death.

The 21-year-old singer faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, Hochman said. The DA said his office will decide whether to seek the death penalty at a later date.

Hochman says investigators have physical, forensic and digital evidence proving that when Celeste threatened to publicly expose D4vd for having a sexual relationship with her, D4vd invited her to his home, killed her with a sharp object, and then cut her body into pieces. Hochman claims it’s all to protect his entertainment career.

“This murder was committed for financial gain, as the evidence will show in court. The financial gain was for Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative music career that Celeste was threatening,” Hochman said.

The teenager’s body was found dismembered In the trunk of the singer’s Tesla registered last fall.

Related to: Timeline of the investigation into the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

Sources told ABC News that the arrest was based on the evidence and probable cause that had been developed. Last week, the medical examiner’s office ruled the teen’s death a homicide.

“The Burks family is not surprised but extremely disappointed that the district attorney chose to charge David,” the singer’s parents said in a statement provided to ABC7 by their attorney. However, they support him and stand by him 100 percent.”

McDonnell noted at Monday’s news conference that throughout the seven-month investigation, the LAPD faced criticism over how it handled the case and its decision not to provide details.

Investigators believe Celeste had been dead for several months before her remains were found.

The police chief said: “I want to be clear about something. My duty is not to raise speculation, but to achieve justice.” “This requires patience and discipline on everyone’s part. This investigation was driven by one goal: to ensure justice for Celeste Rivas and those who loved her.

“We had to be sure that nothing we said or did would jeopardize this case,” McDonnell said. “The significant amount of time that passed between her death and her discovery means that important evidence has deteriorated or disappeared.”

Read more: Who is D4vd? The singer arrested in the death of a 14-year-old started out as a video game player

Celeste, who was reported as a fugitive from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025, when she arrived at D4vd’s rental home in the Hollywood Hills, according to McDonnell. Hochman said he was never heard from again.

April 23 is the same day tickets for the D4vd World Tour go on pre-sale. Prosecutors believe Celeste’s body was mutilated on May 5, and her remains were not found until months later, in September.

“During our investigation, detectives learned that she was involved in a sexual relationship with Mr. Burke while she was a minor and he was an adult,” the police chief said.

D4vd — who first went viral on TikTok, where he has nearly 4 million followers — was on his “Withered” world tour when the teen’s body was discovered in his car. The last few shows of the tour were cancelled, including those in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

ABC News contributed to this report.

See also: What’s next for D4vd? Legal experts weigh in on murder charges filed in the death of a 14-year-old girl